Kevin Gallen

[Deckydee]

Hi

I am hoping if someone could help me out. Just reading the thread there on Rooney’s brother declaring for Ireland and someone mentioned that Kevin Gallen had sent a letter to Brian Kerr asking to get back for Ireland and said that he was cohered into signing for England. Then it said that ‘the rule has changed’ What exactly was this rule? In theory Gallen can still play for Ireland right? Did he officially declare for England, then why did he send a letter to Brian Kerr?

What is the story here with Gallen? Yes he was great and yes there was some rule that there could not be so many foreigners in a team etc and that Gerry Francis forced him into it. Then there was someone else at QPR that Gerry Francis forced into the England squad as well. Plastic Paddy knows who he is

Could someone shed some light on this story please?

[boovidge]

A while back there was an amnesty allowing players to switch countries if they hadnt been capped by the senior team. I believe Gallen is now inelegible because he wasn't picked by Kerr during the amnesty. It's academic really because he'll never play for Ireland.

[SaucyJack]

Hi

I am hoping if someone could help me out. Just reading the thread there on Rooney’s brother declaring for Ireland and someone mentioned that Kevin Gallen had sent a letter to Brian Kerr asking to get back for Ireland and said that he was cohered into signing for England. Then it said that ‘the rule has changed’ What exactly was this rule? In theory Gallen can still play for Ireland right? Did he officially declare for England, then why did he send a letter to Brian Kerr?

What is the story here with Gallen? Yes he was great and yes there was some rule that there could not be so many foreigners in a team etc and that Gerry Francis forced him into it. Then there was someone else at QPR that Gerry Francis forced into the England squad as well. Plastic Paddy knows who he is

Could someone shed some light on this story please?


odd, I was going thru some old 90 minutes magazines the other day and came upon 2 articles about Kevin Gallen in the one issue( threw it, and a bunch of other issues out, spring cleaning) one had a pic of Gallen playing for England under-21 against Ireland under-21's, the story of the small article was about sections of the Tolka park crowd yelling out Judas and traitor at Gallen, interviewed for the article he said he had no regrets declaring for England and not Ireland... sorry,that's all I have, just thought it was a weird coincidence.

[Razors left peg]

all players that had played up to under 21 level were given 1 year amnesty to change countries and after that no player can change past his 21st birthday

[Raheen]

There were three Gallen brothers, Kevin, Steve and Joe. The eldest of three, Joe, was capped by Maurice Setters for the Irish U21s and there was talk of a call up to the full squad but it never happened. He played on the same team as Mark Kinsella. Steven played for the U21s as well but I'm not sure when. One of the pair played LOI I think but I'm not certain. Like Kevin, Steve also played QPR and in La Liga. Joe coaches Millwall now.

Kevin wanted to play for Ireland but there was a limit on the number of foreign players in English clubs at the time so he had no choice but to pitch his lot in with the English.

[boovidge]

the rule also prevented Steve Bruce playing for Ireland

[Splurge]

Kevin wanted to play for Ireland but there was a limit on the number of foreign players in English clubs at the time so he had no choice but to pitch his lot in with the English.
[/QUOTE]

Exactly, he was highly rated early on and QPR would have been a top 6 side in the early 90's so European elegibility was important then. He probably fancied his England chances then aswell.
We've much better options now however.

[Qwerty]

He was a hot prospect back in the day, largely because he broke Gary Linecker's scoring record at school-boy level. Open to correction but I think it's true. Too lazy to Google.

[Superhoops]

Kevin wanted to play for Ireland but there was a limit on the number of foreign players in English clubs at the time so he had no choice but to pitch his lot in with the English.
He had a choice, he could have turned down the contract QPR offered him which required him to declare for England. At the time QPR were in no danger of breaking the 'foreigners' quota but by declaring for Ireland, Gallen's transfer value to QPR would have been reduced.

[tetsujin1979]

He had a choice, he could have turned down the contract QPR offered him which required him to declare for England. At the time QPR were in no danger of breaking the 'foreigners' quota but by declaring for Ireland, Gallen's transfer value to QPR would have been reduced.I don't blame him for signing the contract. He could have been cast adrift by QPR if he didn't sign the contract, and he didn't want to take that chance. I don't think he wanted to play for England, but he was caught between a rock and a hard place. If anything, this reflects badly on Gerry Francis, a manager I did have a lot of respect for until this came to light.

[Superhoops]

I don't blame him for signing the contract. He could have been cast adrift by QPR if he didn't sign the contract, and he didn't want to take that chance. I don't think he wanted to play for England, but he was caught between a rock and a hard place. If anything, this reflects badly on Gerry Francis, a manager I did have a lot of respect for until this came to light.
At the time, Gallen was one of the brightest young stars emerging and there was no danger he was never going to get a professional contract, several clubs would have been interested. He wanted to play for QPR who he had been with since he was a boy and the price he had to pay to become a QPR professional was to declare for England. That was his choice, club over country.

[Serb]

the rule also prevented Steve Bruce playing for Ireland

Are you sure? I thought rule change and the amnesty was in 2004, which is about 5 years after Bruce retired. Previous to that, I was under the impression you could change your allegiance any time as long as you weren't capped by the Senior team.

[pineapple stu]

I think the three-foreigner rule stopped Bruce playing for Ireland. Ferguson didn't want another foreigner in his team, given he'd already had problems playing Kevin Pilkington in nets in a Champions' League game in Barcelona because he couldn't fit Schmeichel in.

[Bluebeard]

odd, I was going thru some old 90 minutes magazines the other day and came upon 2 articles about Kevin Gallen in the one issue( threw it, and a bunch of other issues out, spring cleaning) one had a pic of Gallen playing for England under-21 against Ireland under-21's, the story of the small article was about sections of the Tolka park crowd yelling out Judas and traitor at Gallen, interviewed for the article he said he had no regrets declaring for England and not Ireland... sorry,that's all I have, just thought it was a weird coincidence.

'Twas in Dalyer, and a packed crowd. Given was in goal for Ireland that day, and Nicky Butt was centre mid for England. Hearing the abuse given Gallen, I roared out "United Scum" when Butt was on the ball (I was young and foolish then...). The dirty looks I got for that!

[Razors left peg]

Are you sure? I thought rule change and the amnesty was in 2004, which is about 5 years after Bruce retired. Previous to that, I was under the impression you could change your allegiance any time as long as you weren't capped by the Senior team.

the B cap for England definately stopped Bruce playing for us

[boovidge]

Are you sure? I thought rule change and the amnesty was in 2004, which is about 5 years after Bruce retired. Previous to that, I was under the impression you could change your allegiance any time as long as you weren't capped by the Senior team.

Interesting article on Alex Bruce:

Part 1:
http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=381057

Part 2:
http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=381058


In the build up to the tournament 14 years ago, manager Jack Charlton was struggling to find a partner for Paul McGrath in the centre of Ireland's defence. Charlton got news that Steve Bruce had Irish roots, and promptly got in touch, offering him an unexpected chance to play on football's greatest stage.


Unfortunately for Bruce senior, European club competitions allowed only four foreigners in each squad, and with Alex Ferguson (http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=381057#) having already filled those slots, Bruce was denied the opportunity.
He did travel over to the World Cup however as a guest of United team-mates Denis Irwin and Roy Keane, and brought son Alex along to take in the atmosphere of Giants stadium as Ireland toppled the Italians 1-0.


"I was only nine at the time, but I can remember the atmosphere as if it were yesterday. It was such a great experience.


"My Dad was close to getting a cap under Jack Charlton but unfortunately due to circumstances beyond his control he wasn't able to turn out for the Republic. It was a big regret of his. He would have loved to play in the World Cup. I remember having a great time over in the USA though. The supporters were absolutely fantastic, and it gave me a little insight into what Irish football was all about."

[Serb]

Interesting article on Alex Bruce:

Part 1:
http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=381057

Part 2:
http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=381058


Ah yeah, that makes sense alright, was thinking you meant the same rule that prevents people changing now (i.e. can't change allegiance after 21st birthday).

[TonyD]

One of the pair played LOI I think but I'm not certain.

Joe Gallen played for Dundalk for a while. Sometime in the mid - late ninties I think.

[Deckydee]

all players that had played up to under 21 level were given 1 year amnesty to change countries and after that no player can change past his 21st birthday

1 Year!!! ??

That is very strange! Why just one year?

Will it happen again?

[Shedender81]

There were three Gallen brothers, Kevin, Steve and Joe. The eldest of three, Joe, was capped by Maurice Setters for the Irish U21s and there was talk of a call up to the full squad but it never happened. He played on the same team as Mark Kinsella. Steven played for the U21s as well but I'm not sure when. One of the pair played LOI I think but I'm not certain. Like Kevin, Steve also played QPR and in La Liga. Joe coaches Millwall now.

Kevin wanted to play for Ireland but there was a limit on the number of foreign players in English clubs at the time so he had no choice but to pitch his lot in with the English.

There is a choice... and he made it !

[Shedender81]

Interesting article on Alex Bruce:

Part 1:
http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=381057

Part 2:
http://www.ireland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=381058


HE PLAYED B FOR ENGLAND

[pineapple stu]

Turn Off Your Caps!!!!!!

[Deckydee]

Funnily enough only heard this now. Straight from the horses mouth (as of 33 mins)

http://playbackmedia.co.uk/open-all-rs-archive/ then choose Kevin Gallen - Still Magic

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

This is a bump that I would be proud of.

http://www.indyrs.co.uk/2009/11/interview-with-kevin-gallen-part-one/

PF: QPR Meath would like to know what the story was with you and the Republic of Ireland ? He says that a lot of people there believe that you only wanted to play for the Republic when you knew that you weren’t good enough for England. Not him personally, but he adds that if you mention to anyone there that you support QPR they tell that story.

KG: To be honest, when I was young I was never asked to play for Ireland. No one ever contacted me from the FAI. They changed the rule about five years ago, wasn’t it Tim Cahill who got it changed ? I think he played for Western Samoa and Australia ? So some people I knew on the Irish Post wrote a letter to Brian Kerr and I signed it, so it was from me, asking him if he would consider me playing for Ireland. He then wrote back thanking me for the letter and invited me over to Ireland, or he could come and see me when he was over in London and we would have a chat. I was then going over to Ireland in the summer to get married. I spoke to his secretary and told them that I’m over in Ireland on the Wednesday and could I meet Brian Kerr, here’s my number but I never got a reply.

A lot of people have asked me that question, thousands of people, mostly all my family (laughter). My two brothers played for the Republic, one for the U21’s and the other for the U18’s, but I never really got asked. It only got brought up at my first England U21 game in Dublin and that’s when the Irish Press all wanted to interview me. I told them the whole story and it was on the back pages of every newspaper on the day we played Ireland and I was very shocked. I got absolute pelters in Dublin, I was called this, that, which made me chuckle but it wasn’t very nice for my mum and dad who were in the crowd. My uncle was there wearing an Irish scarf, but no regrets because when I was a kid all I wanted to do was play for QPR. If someone said to me, ‘Who would you rather play for next week, QPR or England, I would say QPR and that’s the truth.

[Deckydee]

If someone could find this interview I would be very thankful.

https://twitter.com/irlsport/status/607331599835897856

[DannyInvincible]

There was this one in the Irish Post a few weeks ago: http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/gallen-i-had-an-opportunity-to-play-for-ireland-and-it-never-happened

Might be of interest.

I don't think the Irish Sun piece is online but, as you might see there, a Twitter user tweeted to ask for a link and Cathal Dervin (also of the Irish Sun) asked them to message him their email address. Do you have Twitter? I'll message him if you like.